A lot of library systems have their own essential position statements, or ideas about institution and program development (AASL). Instead of using a small library system as a model, I chose to use a large organization's position statements as my foundations. These are sometimes broader and may need to be tweaked to fit a small institution, but I would rather start broad and go narrow than begin narrow and try to go broader. I would like to congratulate the AASL on having some of the soundest, most detailed position statements I could find for a large group on the web. However, as a public librarian, I eventually opted to stick with the more all-encompassing ALA standards.
ALA-- 40.1 Core Values of Librarianship
"The foundation of modern librarianship rests on an essential set of core values, which define, inform, and guide all professional practice. These values reflect the history and ongoing development of the profession and have been advanced, expanded, and refined by numerous policy statements of the American Library Association. Among these are: Access, Confidentiality/Privacy, Democracy, Diversity, Education and Lifelong Learning, Intellectual Freedom, Preservation, The Public Good, Professionalism, Service, and Social Responsibility."
Though there is more to this position statement, I think the first paragraph pretty much sums up why there needs to be a set of core values to "guide professional practice." This basically means there needs to be statements that define what the library is about and also to back up those statements by saying "This is why we have policies and this is why these value policies are important." Having a core values statement informs all of the other more narrow position statements within the library.
I think any library system should define its core values before moving into policy creation and can see myself using this position statement in the future.
I first encountered the ALA's position statements in Intellectual Freedom class at IU.
"40. Core Values, Ethics, and Core Competencies." 2012. American Library Association. 23 Apr. 2012.
"ALA recognizes its broad social responsibilities." "ALA promotes the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of a learning society, encouraging its members to work with educators, government officials, and organizations in coalitions to initiate and support comprehensive efforts to ensure that school, public, academic, and special libraries in every community cooperate to provide lifelong learning services to all." "The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all."
Section 1 encompasses Mission and Vision statements and an introduction to what ALA believes it does and needs to be as an institution. The segment is short but gets to a lot of important points, several of which I included in quotations above. Like the core values statements, mission and vision statements back up all of the actions of a system or institution. It is important to get the word correct to make certain their can be no misconstruing or misrepresentation.
I think the ALA's mission statement is broad because it has to encompass so many institutions within the institution. However, it provides a great example of an essential position statement and can be looked at as a smart example when creating something on a much smaller scale. I can see myself using this position statement in the future.
I first encountered the ALA's position statements in Intellectual Freedom class at IU.
ALA--52. Services and Responsibilities of Libraries
This one was difficult to encompass in a quote, so I did not try to. I think "Services and Responsibilities" is a big one for library's who need to consider outreach as much as considering the fair treatment of in-house collections and use. Policy 52 discusses services to youth and services to jails and so much more. Even if a library is servicing a small population, it is important to think outside the box and look at opportunities for collaboration and for change.
As a public librarian even if I am not directly involved with an outreach committee, I think it is still extremely important to keep this document in mind and to do so into the future.
I first encountered the ALA's position statements in Intellectual Freedom class at IU.
3. "52. Services and Responsibilities of Libraries." 2012. American Library Association. 23 Apr. 2012.
ALA-- 40.1 Core Values of Librarianship
"The foundation of modern librarianship rests on an essential set of core values, which define, inform, and guide all professional practice. These values reflect the history and ongoing development of the profession and have been advanced, expanded, and refined by numerous policy statements of the American Library Association. Among these are: Access, Confidentiality/Privacy, Democracy, Diversity, Education and Lifelong Learning, Intellectual Freedom, Preservation, The Public Good, Professionalism, Service, and Social Responsibility."
"40. Core Values, Ethics, and Core Competencies." 2012. American Library Association. 23 Apr. 2012.
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/40corevalues#40.1.
ALA--1. Mission, Priority Areas, Goals
"ALA recognizes its broad social responsibilities.""ALA promotes the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of a learning society, encouraging its members to work with educators, government officials, and organizations in coalitions to initiate and support comprehensive efforts to ensure that school, public, academic, and special libraries in every community cooperate to provide lifelong learning services to all."
"The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all."
2. "1. Mission, Priority Areas, Goals." 2012. American Library Association. 23 Apr. 2012.
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section1/1mission.
ALA--52. Services and Responsibilities of Libraries
3. "52. Services and Responsibilities of Libraries." 2012. American Library Association. 23 Apr. 2012.
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/52libsvcsandrespon.